Blogging, Olympics, and Doctor Who

Two weeks ago the Olympics began, and as a former resident of Yorkshire, England, I watched the opening ceremonies with more than a touch of pride. Danny Boyle pulled off a British extravaganza, Team GB has excelled, and while I don’t when I’ll get back to my second home, one day it will occur. Several cuppas will be enjoyed in the process.

I started blogging in the UK; my eldest was in America, doing a year of high school, living with my husband’s sister’s family. My daughter wanted updates from our northern English village, introduced me to Blogger, and I’ve been poking around blogs ever since. Switching to WordPress during the Opening Ceremonies, I followed the excitement while adding posts and pages. I like WordPress; building my website was far more easy than I imagined. I will always recall trying to sort some techie detail while going between the LA Times, the BBC, and the NY Times, wondering just how was everything going to fall into place; the blog, Britain’s shine on a world stage. So far, it’s all been pretty fantastic.

Now, as the Olympics wind down, the blogging well in hand, another topic tugs on my heart; Doctor Who will start up again, maybe by the end of the month. We began our foray into Who-dom when my husband took our eldest to Manchester for her SAT’s. We didn’t know all of us would be coming back to America, but she was, for university. They watched the Ninth Doctor in Manchester, then brought him to our village, where Doctor Who took firm residence. We lugged him back with us in plots and Daleks; my eldest has a Dalek in the guise of a now empty bubble bath container, and the sign for the newlyweds’ parking spot at the reception contained a Tardis and book of spoilers amid wedding rings and other pertinent info, like Parking Reserved, the big date, etc, etc. It’s been a funny summer, what with her wedding, little writing (although it’s going well now, and will be attended to as soon as I wrap this up), Olympics, new blogging site, new website too. And now, as it comes to a close, there’s Doctor Who.

Many songs from previous series’ soundtracks inspire my writing, I’ve felt the blessed hand of exquisite drama fall on my shoulder after watching more than a few episodes. The writing is so often spot-on, a perfect blend of sci-fi and the heart. Plenty of heart, as The Doctor has two. It’s been a summer of heart-wrenching moments, from watching my eldest say I do, to the inspired and magical effort of all Olympians, but especially those of the host nation. I am a Californian first, then firmly set in northern English soil. Cut me and I bleed Yorkshire tea.

Big things will occur in Series 7; Amy and Rory will depart, a new companion revealed, great music from Murray Gold and the National Orchestra of Wales to absorb. I probably won’t blog much about Doctor Who, unless I come here raving about the top-notch scripts or the fate of Mr and Mrs Pond. But I wanted to note, as the Olympics herald their last medals, as I feel quite at home here on WordPress, just a little of what makes my heart sing. Blogging, as I just can’t stay away from it. Sport, which even at its darkest moments revives the soul with athletic grace and stamina. And of course, The Doctor. He doesn’t use a gun, often doesn’t have a plan. But somehow, usually the best occurs.

And when it doesn’t, those two hearts ache more than we humans could ever know.